15 Fun and Easy Things to Do at Mt Rainier National Park

Want to visit Mt Rainier without climbing Mt Rainier? Good, me too. Leave the crampons at home when you try out these suggestions for scenic viewpoints and short hikes on the mountain that will take you to incredible alpine vistas, waterfalls, wildflowers, glacial rivers, historic lodges, and wildlife. Here is everything you need to know to plan your next adventurous yet laidback trip to Mt Rainier National Park.

A quick note on navigation

Mt Rainier National Park has four entrances:

1. Nisqually (southwest)

2. Stevens Canyon (southeast)

3. White River/Sunrise (northeast)

4. Carbon River (northwest)

I start this list with things to do near the Nisqually entrance, move through the Stevens Canyon area, and end at the White River/Sunrise area. I’ve left off the Carbon River area only because it’s not very close to the other attractions so isn’t easy to include if you have limited time in the park. If you do go to Carbon River, expect a less developed and less crowded Mt Rainier experience.

The list is in road trip order, but you might want to organize your day differently. For example, it might make more sense to head to the most popular sights (those near Paradise or Sunrise) earliest to escape the crowds. It would take longer than one day to do everything on the list, especially if you’re hiking. Three or four days would be enough time to see the sights mentioned here.

Park brochure map courtesy of NPS

Find a PDF park map here.

1. Longmire

Season: Year-round

Once the headquarters for Mt Rainier National Park, Longmire has a lot of history. Today, it is a great place to have a meal, stock up on supplies, and try out some hiking trails. It’s also one of the few places in the park that stays open during the winter. Here are a few things to look for when you visit.

• See the Nisqually Suspension Bridge, a rustic wood and steel cable bridge over the Nisqually River that is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the national park system. You can cross the bridge in a car or on foot to find some great views.

• Hike the Trail of Shadows, an easy, 0.7-mile hike past historical sites out to a view of Mt Rainier. Look for the trailhead across the road from the National Park Inn. This family-friendly trail would be doable with strollers and some types of wheelchairs.

• Stock up on snacks, camping supplies, and souvenirs at the general store. Unlike most amenities in Mt Rainier National Park, this store stays open all year.

• Explore the exhibits at the Longmire Museum.

• Stay overnight or try out the restaurant at the National Park Inn.

2. Hike to Carter Falls and Madcap Falls

Madcap Falls

Distance: 2.8 miles out and back

Elevation: 600 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Restrooms: Yes, at the Cougar Rock picnic area.

Season: May - October

A short hike starting from the Cougar Rock Campground follows the Wonderland Trail out to two lovely waterfalls on the Paradise River, Carter Falls and Madcap Falls. The hike begins by crossing a log bridge over the Nisqually River and then enters an old-growth forest. On a sunny day, look for an excellent view of Mt Rainier to the north as you cross the log bridge. Then, tall western red cedars, western hemlock, and Doug firs provide welcome shade throughout the hike. On overcast days, the waterfalls are a rewarding destination when clouds or fog obscure views of the mountain. Note that although this hike is one of the more approachable waterfall hikes on Mt Rainier, there is some elevation gain and uneven terrain to navigate.

3. Christine Falls

Christine Falls

Season: Year-round

Christine Falls is a rare example of balance and harmony between human engineering and natural beauty. It is also one of the most picturesque and easiest-to-reach waterfalls in Mt Rainier Natural Park, only a few steps from a small roadside parking area. Look for the shortest of trails (maybe 100 feet) down to a viewpoint overlooking the lower tier of Christine Falls and the elegant stone bridge that passes over it. Christine Falls has a smaller upper tier that is difficult to see from the viewpoint, but you’ll spot it when you cross the Christine Falls Bridge. Take care if you cross the bridge on foot. It is narrow and does not have a shoulder. Both tiers pass through a canyon of eroded granitic bedrock that completes the frame for the falls.

4. Ricksecker Point

A glimpse of the Nisqually River valley at Ricksecker Point

Season: May - October. The road to the viewpoint closes for winter.

Ricksecker Point is an impressive viewpoint perched on top of a volcanic ridge formed by the Ricksecker lava flow. At around 40,000 years old, this andesite flow was the youngest large ridge-forming lava flow that erupted from Mt Rainier. A short detour on a one-way road leads to the viewpoint, which is an easy roadside pull-off. Both the road and the viewpoint were constructed to blend in with the mountain’s natural topography. Look for the Nisqually River and Paradise River flowing through glacially carved valleys. On a clear day, you’ll also get a whizbang view of Rainier’s snowcapped summit and the Tatoosh Range.

Ricksecker Point on a foggy day

5. Narada Falls

Narada Falls

Distance: 0.2 miles out and back

Elevation: 60 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Restrooms: Yes

Season: Year-round

At 168 feet, Narada Falls is the tallest waterfall you can reach by car in Mt Rainier National Park. You’ll see the top of the falls when you look over the stone wall next to the parking lot. From here, cross the bridge over the Paradise River and head downhill to the viewpoint. Narada Falls has a kind of magic about it as it spills over a mossy cliff like dozens of thin white ribbons. The rough cliff face behind the falls is made of 40,000-year-old andesite, a product of one of Rainier’s more recent eruptions. The force of the falling water creates a fine mist rising from the pool at its base where rainbows form in the right light. You’ll see the trail continue past the viewpoint and meet up with the Wonderland Trail, the 93-mile trail that circles the mountain.

6. Hike the Nisqually Vista Trail

Mt Rainier looms behind the Nisqually Vista Loop

Distance: 1.2-mile loop

Elevation: 200 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Restrooms: Yes, at the Jackson Visitor Center.

Season: Potentially year-round. Visit July - September to avoid the snow or try out the trail with snowshoes in winter.

The Nisqually Vista Loop is a short and easy trail with big rewards. Just over a mile long, this family-friendly hike leads to several viewpoints overlooking the southern face of Mt Rainier. Look for the Nisqually Glacier, the trail’s namesake, on slopes of snow-covered andesite. Meltwater from this glacier feeds the Nisqually River, which flows down the mountain and then out to the Puget Sound. The trail is paved throughout and is one of the flatter hikes in the Paradise area. It would be doable with a stroller but not so much in a wheelchair due to some steep grades.

7. Explore Paradise

Paradise Inn

Season: Usually year-round

Paradise is in many ways the heart of Mt Rainier National Park, offering a sample of its best features from 5,400 feet of elevation. Here you can find wildflower-filled meadows, panoramic alpine vistas, waterfalls, glacier views, hiking trails for all abilities, and tons of wildlife. There are also amenities to make the visit comfortable, from a picnic area to flush toilets. In summer and early fall, look for a cafe and a gift shop at the Paradise Inn. Nearby, the Henry M. Jackson Visitor Center has an upper level with exhibits about the nature and history of the area. These displays can be a welcome escape from the rain if you are unlucky with the weather during your visit.

The Jackson Visitor Center is a good place to escape inclement weather

In winter, Paradise gets a large amount of snow and is a popular place to cross-country ski, snowshoe, and sled. The road from Longmire is usually plowed but check conditions before heading out. The Paradise Inn closes in winter but the Jackson Visitor Center usually stays open on weekends and holidays. In short, there is everything here but solitude. Being the most popular area in Mt Rainier National Park, parking is a challenge during busy times as even the overflow lots fill up. Arrive early in the morning or late in the afternoon during the summer.

8. Hike the Skyline Trail

Skyline Trail

Distance: 5.5-mile loop

Elevation: 1,500 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Restrooms: Yes, at the Jackson Visitor Center.

Season: June - September to avoid the snow or try out the trail with snowshoes in winter.

Skyline Trail

Let me first say that the Skyline Trail is not easy. The full loop trail is over 5 miles long and gains a decent amount of elevation along the way. It also takes most people about 4 to 5 hours to complete, which may cut into your itinerary if you have limited time during your visit. I include it as an option both because it is a spectacular trail with some of the best views in the park and because hiking shorter sections of it will bring you to beautiful places. This trail is wildflower-city in the summer and dazzling in fall thanks to the changing leaves. Look for marmots, pikas, deer, chipmunks, and golden-mantled ground squirrels in the meadows near the trail as you walk.

A golden-mantled ground squirrel next to the Skyline Trail

Starting from the Jackson Visitor Center in Paradise you can either take the trail north (heading up the mountain) to do the loop clockwise or head east to do it counterclockwise.

Heading north will bring you up a steep hill climb that is made easier by the phenomenal views. For a short (1.6-mile) hike that will still gain some elevation, consider making a detour out to Alta Vista and take in the views from close to 6,000 feet. Look for Mt Rainier and its neighboring peaks from the viewpoint.

Trail to Alta Vista

If you head east to start the loop counterclockwise, you can make the easy, 1-mile out-and-back hike to elegant, 60-foot Myrtle Falls. On a clear day, Mt Rainier’s summit makes a perfect backdrop for the falls. This portion of the Skyline Trail is paved and fairly flat, making it doable with strollers and potentially wheelchairs. The short spur that descends to the viewpoint for Myrtle Falls is steep and might be slippery in spring.

Myrtle Falls

9. Reflection Lakes

Reflection Lakes

Season: June - September, potentially October

On a clear day, Reflection Lakes are among the most picture-perfect spots in Mt Rainier National Park. On its banks, even the most indifferent photographers will reach for their phones to capture the majesty of the mountain reflecting off the blue water. Parking can challenging here due to its popularity, but if you can snag a spot next to the lake, you’ll be rewarded with some unforgettable scenery.

You can see Reflection Lakes by walking a few steps from the parking area to the dirt trail along its shore. If you’d like to see more, a couple of short hike options begin here.

• Head east about a mile on the Wonderland Trail to see nearby Louise Lake in the depression created by a former glacier.

• Check out the Lakes Trail, a 2.8-mile loop that begins at Reflection Lakes and climbs to Faraway Rock. Look for views of Reflection Lake, Louise Lake, Stevens Canyon, and the Tatoosh Range along the way.

10. Hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake

Snow Lake

Distance: 2.5 miles out and back

Elevation: 700 feet

Difficulty: Moderate

Restrooms: Not at the trailhead, but there is a vault toilet at the Snow Lake Campground.

Season: June - September, potentially October

One of the more underrated hikes in Mt Rainier National Park, the short hike to Snow Lake leads to views of the Tatoosh Range and its highest point, Unicorn Peak, as well as two stunning alpine lakes. Look for wildflowers in summer, edible berries in late summer, and fall color starting in late September. On a clear day, Mt Rainier’s summit is visible throughout much of the hike. After 0.5 miles, you’ll reach a viewpoint overlooking Bench Lake and its namesake flat bench of land surrounded by mountain slopes. Shortly after, you’ll be able to descend to the shore of Bench Lake where the water reflects Mt Rainier’s summit on a clear, calm day.

Bench Lake

Continuing on the trail, you’ll reach Snow Lake, a glacial cirque lake backed by views of the Tatoosh Range. Although short, this hike is not particularly easy due to the continual alternation between uphill and downhill terrain. Fortunately, Snow Lake is a relaxing place to rest your tired calf muscles.

11. Box Canyon

Viewpoint and Box Canyon from the Box Canyon Bridge

Distance: 0.3-mile loop

Elevation: Minimal

Difficulty: Easy

Restrooms: Yes

Season: June - September, potentially October

Box Canyon is a narrow slot canyon carved by the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River, which flows at its base. Meltwater from the Cowlitz Glacier feeds this river. From the parking area, you can walk a few steps out to an overlook with far-reaching views to the south. For a better view down into the canyon, cross Stevens Canyon Rd and follow the short trail to a wooden footbridge. On a clear day, you will see Mt Rainier’s summit on the way. Once you reach the footbridge, you’ll be able to peer down into the canyon and see the river flowing more than a hundred feet below. The steep canyon walls are made of dark-colored gabbro, the result of a volcanic intrusion. Cross the footbridge to continue on the short loop hike that will bring you back to Stevens Canyon Rd. As you walk, you may notice scratch marks on the rocks that indicate a glacier once covered this area.

A short trail runs alongside Box Canyon

12. Hike to Silver Falls

Silver Falls

Distance: 2.9-mile loop starting from the Silver Falls Loop East Trailhead (or 2 miles out and back from the Grove of the Patriarchs Comfort Station)

Elevation: 500 feet

Difficulty: Easy

Restrooms: Yes

Season: May - October

The easy, family-friendly hike to Silver Falls passes through an old-growth forest alongside the Ohanapecosh River, one of Mt Rainier’s most impressive rivers. You may notice a pale green opacity to the water from glacial flour, tiny rock fragments ground down by glacial ice and transported in meltwater. Some cascades along the way offer a prelude to the larger waterfall to come. When you reach Silver Falls, you’ll see a rocky outcropping where you can admire the powerful 40-foot waterfall. Although it has tiers, they are hard to distinguish given the volume of the water rushing over them. Take care around the edge, which is a steep drop to a fast river below. A wooden footbridge across the river also offers an excellent vantage point to admire the falls.

Note: Many travel guides will suggest the easy, 1.1-mile Grove of the Patriarchs hike, which is quite close to the Silver Falls Trail. This trail has been closed since 2021 and has not yet reopened as of 2023. If it reopens in 2024, this trail would also be a great easy hike option that explores a forest with some massive old-growth trees.

13. Sunrise Point

Mountain views surround you in all directions at Sunrise Point

Season: July - September

Sunrise Point has arguably the best views that you can drive to in Mt Rainier National Park. From this easy roadside stop, you will see the Cascade Mountains in all directions from an elevation of 6,120 feet. See Mt Rainier to the southwest, Mount Adams to the south, and a distant Mt Baker to the north. Look for the blue pool of Sunrise Lake just north of the viewpoint. On a less exciting but practical note, it is also one of the few places in Mt Rainier National Park where you can get phone reception.

14. Sunrise Visitor Center and trails

Sunrise Day Lodge

Season: July - early October

At 6,400 feet, Sunrise is the highest point you can reach by car in Mt Rainier National Park. Here you’ll find a Visitor Center, the Sunrise Day Lodge, and some incredible hiking trails. After grabbing a snack at the lodge, here are some hikes you might want to tackle.

• See the enormous Emmons Glacier on the northeast face of Mt Rainier. Start at the trailhead at the southwest corner of the parking lot at Sunrise. Continue 0.1 miles, then follow the Sunrise Rim Trail to the Emmons Vista Overlook.

• Continue past the Emmons Vista Overlook on the easy, 2.7-mile out-and-back Silver Forest Trail. A lesser-known or more peaceful trail than most in the Sunrise area, this hike will still bring you to excellent views of Mt Rainier and its glacial valleys. In summer, look for a wildflower bonanza.

• Try out the family-friendly, 1.5-mile Sunrise Nature Trail to explore the alpine meadows of Sunrise. Look for dazzling wildflowers and views of the surrounding mountain peaks along the way.

• Find stunning high-elevation lakes by following the easy, 2.8-mile hike to Frozen Lake or the 2.7-mile out-and-back trek to Shadow Lake. Neither gets very steep and either would be a good choice for families.

• For more of a challenge, hike to the Mount Fremont Lookout, a 5.7-mile out-and-back hike to a fire watchtower at 7,200 feet of elevation. Although not easy, this hike will reward your efforts with fields of wildflowers, wildlife, and some of the best mountain views in the park.

15. Watch for wildlife

A sooty grouse looks for her car

Season: Year-round

Inside the Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise, there is a board where people can write down their favorite things about Mt Rainier National Park. When I saw it, the whole list was animals. I get it. My favorite thing was the marmots. A type of large rodent, marmots hibernate for much of the year and then spend the summer fattening up on flowers, greens, and insects. They are slender when they emerge from their burrows in spring and plump by fall. Not a shy animal, one memorable marmot made some hikers step out of the way as it waddled across the trail back to its burrow. Look for them in high-elevation meadows in summer and early fall.

Hoary marmots are plump in the fall in preparation for hibernation

Summer is also a good time to look for small mammals like pikas, chipmunks, ground-mantled ground squirrels, and Douglas squirrels. Some might find you. The unusually bold golden-mantled ground squirrel in the photo below climbed up my father, uninvited, to reach a bag of snacks we had with us. As always, don’t feed the wildlife. It makes them climb fathers.

A golden-mantled ground squirrel relaxes next to the Paradise Inn

You might also spot larger animals like deer or elk grazing in the meadows. Fall is an especially good time to look for them. People sometimes see black bears in the park. If you see one, know that they don’t tend to be aggressive if left alone, just make sure to keep your distance. Mt Rainier is also a great place for bird watching. Look for raptors like bald eagles and peregrine falcons, colorful Steller’s jays, and many types of songbirds in the trees along the hiking trails.

Deer graze next to the Skyline Trail

Tips for visiting Mt Rainier National Park

• You must have an entrance pass to visit Mt Rainier National Park. A 7-day entrance pass costs $30/passenger vehicle. You can buy one with a credit card at any park entrance during daylight hours or online ahead of time. You can also use the America the Beautiful Pass ($80) or an annual park-specific pass ($55) to enter the park.

• Mt Rainier National Park is very popular and gets crowded, especially on summer weekends. The Nisqually and White River entrances are the busiest and may have long wait times. Once in the park, you may find its parking lots full during popular times. To avoid the worst of the crowds, consider visiting on weekdays or arriving early in the morning or late in the afternoon. Although fall is less crowded than summer, you may still have a wait to enter the park on weekend days.

• Dogs can enter Mt Rainier National Park but aren’t allowed many places. They can be in parking lots, campgrounds, and within 6 feet of paved public roads. They are not allowed on any trails or in wilderness areas.

• Find restrooms spread throughout the park. On this list, look for them at Longmire, the Cougar Rock picnic area, Narada Falls, Paradise, Box Canyon, Silver Falls Campground, and Sunrise.

• There are no gas stations inside Mt Rainier National Park. Fill up in one of the surrounding towns like Ashford, Packwood, or Enumclaw before entering the park.

• Road closures in Mt Rainier National Park are common for reasons like weather and road construction. Check for closures on the National Park Service website before heading to the park.

• The roads in Mt Rainier are paved and in good condition. Driving through the park is no problem in a low-clearance vehicle.

• Travel time from Seattle to the closest park entrance (White River) is a little under two hours. Driving from Portland to the closest park entrance (Nisqually) takes about 2.5 hours.

Hoary marmots take in the views near the Skyline Trail

When to visit

Summer (July - September) is the peak season at Mt Rainier National Park. The snow has finally (mostly) melted from higher elevation areas in the park and the wildflowers are blooming. Temperatures are usually pleasant and there are many sunny days. These advantages also lead to summer’s biggest drawback, the crowds. Plan on sharing the park with many other visitors, which can mean long wait times at park entrances, full parking lots, and busy hiking trails. Arrive early, especially on weekends.

Spring (May - June) will be less crowded but snow might limit access to higher-elevation areas of the park. You can find some early blooming wildflowers but the best displays are yet to come. The waterfalls and rivers will be spectacular thanks to the melting snow.

Fall (late September - October) can be a beautiful if unpredictable time to visit Mt Rainier. Although the wildflowers will have faded, changing fall leaves provide at least as much color. Expect reduced services and some seasonal closures beginning in October. There are also more rainy days that will limit visibility. Learn more about visiting Mt Rainier National Park in October.

Winter (November - April) means a lot of snow on the mountain. Be prepared for winter driving conditions. Tire chains are required in the park and only the Nisqually entrance remains open year-round. Most areas of the park are not accessible in winter. Despite the closures, there are still areas worth exploring during a winter visit. The Longmire area can be a good launching point for a snowshoeing adventure. The Jackson Visitor Center at Paradise is usually open on weekends throughout the winter.

Geology of Mt Rainier

The Nisqually Glacier carved a deep valley on Rainier’s southern face

I hesitate to start this section knowing that whole books can and have been written about the geology of Mt Rainier but I think some highlights are still worth it. At 14,410 feet, Mt Rainier is the highest peak in the Cascade Mountains, towering thousands of feet above its neighbors. It is also an active stratovolcano. The movement of tectonic plates off the Pacific Coast fuels Rainier’s growth. When the Juan de Fuca oceanic plate subducts under the lighter North American continental plate, it moves toward the mantle, warming and releasing water. This water then melts rock above the subducting plate, creating a magma chamber. Eruptions from that chamber build the slopes of the volcano.

Mt Rainier is a young volcano built on the bones of older volcanoes that have come and gone. The peak we see today began growing about 500,000 years ago. It sits on top of volcanic bedrock as old as 36 million years. A unique feature of Rainier’s geology is what’s called the Tatoosh Pluton, a volcanic intrusion of mostly granitic rock about 26 to 14 million years old. Unlike other large Cascade peaks like Mt Adams or Mt Hood, it is fairly easy to find granite and granodiorite on the slopes of Mt Rainier amid the more typical Cascade andesite.

Mt Rainier’s glaciers have had an enormous impact on its topography. In all, the mountain has 28 named glaciers as well as less significant ice sheets. These glaciers have erosive power that has changed the face of the mountain. When you visit, you’ll see many mountain rivers, streams, and waterfalls fed by snow and glacial melt, especially in spring and early summer. These streams often appear slightly opaque and sometimes pale green due to glacial flour, the tiny fragments of mountain rocks ground down by glaciers.

Although Mt Rainier has not had a recent eruption, it is still considered an active and potentially dangerous volcano, especially given its proximity to urban areas. Some of its more recent activity was in the form of lahars, destructive flows of mud and debris. Mt Rainier has had frequent lahars over the past 11,00 years, the latest being only 500 years ago. Today, it is monitored for potential activity.

A quick note about the name

In 1792, British naval Captain George Vancouver looked out from the deck of his ship and saw a tall mountain peak in the distance. He named the peak after his friend, Rear Admiral Peter Rainier, and the name remains today. Rainier never saw the mountain named for him.

There have been efforts over the years to return to the mountain’s previous name in use by local people before the arrival of Europeans. One of the challenges facing this movement is spelling. There are quite a few variations, Tahoma or Tacoma being among the best known. With some reluctance, I’ve used the name Rainier because it is the most recognizable. Perhaps in the future that will change.

Alta Vista Loop

In summary, the best fun and easy things to do in Mt Rainier National Park are:

1. Longmire

2. Hike to Carter Falls and Madcap Falls

3. Christine Falls

4. Ricksecker Point

5. Narada Falls

6. Hike the Nisqually Vista Trail

7. Explore Paradise

8. Hike the Skyline Trail

9. Reflection Lakes

10. Hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake

11. Box Canyon

12. Hike to Silver Falls

13. Sunrise Point

14. Sunrise Day Lodge and hiking trails

15. Look for wildlife

Enjoy your trip to Mt Rainier National Park!

With love,

Emma

Explore nearby

Find details on the hike to Carter Falls and Madcap Falls.

Find details on the hike to Bench Lake and Snow Lake.

Find things to do near Mt Adams.

Find more things to do in the Cascade Mountains.

References

Barcott, Bruce. The Measure of a Mountain: Beauty and Terror on Mount Rainier. The Ballantine Publishing Group, 1997.

Miller, Marli B., and Darrel S. Cowan. Roadside geology of Washington. Mountain Press Publishing Company, 2017.